National Book Week celebrated in collaboration with TuksSport

National Book Week is an initiative of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture. The 8th annual National Book Week was celebrated from 04 to 10 September 2017. This celebration coincided with International Literacy Day on 8 September.

The Honorable Minister of Art and Culture, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa explained his support for National Book Week as follows: “The importance of reading in order to achieve success in life is foundational for the individual and essential for nation building and social cohesion. The Department of Arts and Culture’s Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) strategy recognises the power of the book sector to contribute to job creation, poverty reduction, skills development and, above all, economic growth. Thus as such, the National Book Week is a strategic intervention to promote a reading culture that will enhance the prominence and socio-economic impact of the South African books sector both locally and globally.”

In September 2017 the Department of Library Services and TuksSport collaborated in designing a series of unique National Book Week posters of Prof Cheryl de la Rey (Vice-Chancellor and Principal), Prof Stephanie Burton,(Vice-principal Research and Postgraduate Education), Toby Sutcliffe (CEO of the HPC and Acting Director of TuksSport) and TuksSport athletes Wenda Nel, Shaun Bartlett, Tshina Mdau, Sokwakhana Zazini, Nicole van Wyk, Bongani van Bodenstein, Jonathan Wing, Natalie Esteves, Andrew Beerwinkel and Mariska Venter in support of National Book Week. The posters formed part of a display in the library for the whole month and the images were also shared on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

National Book Week is an important initiative in encouraging the nation to value reading as a fun and pleasurable activity and to show how reading can easily be incorporated into one’s daily lifestyle. The Department of Library Services values this collaboration with TuksSport in promoting reading and celebrating the important role that books play in our daily lives.